Sure, the Texans are still a playoff team

The Texans still have a decent shot at finishing 10-6. If they can’t beat Carolina and Indianapolis with T.J. Yates, then they probably don’t deserve to make the playoffs anyway.

Regardless of who is playing quarterback, they’re still ranked No. 1 in defense and No. 3 in rushing in the NFL. Yes, they still have to get some plays out of the quarterback, but this team still has some reasons for hope.

Television cameras kept showing Gary Kubiak staring at that Waffle House menu he carries with him. He seemed to be thinking that if he stared at the thing long enough, he’d find something just right for Yates.

I think I speak for an entire city when I say I hope T.J. has been paying attention in those meetings he has been in the last six months. He never figured to need any of the stuff they were talking about, but maybe he’s one of those kids who is always trying to please the teacher.

“Matt, what are you supposed to do on this play?” Kubiak would ask.

“I know, I know,” T.J. would yell.

Or something like that.

OK, so are the Texans still going to the playoffs? At 8-3, they’ve got a two-game lead over Tennessee with five games left to play.

They’re going to be underdogs in these next two games — a home game against Atlanta (7-4) and a road game at Cincinnati. (7-4)

Meanwhile, Tennessee is playing a road game against Buffalo (5-6) and a home game against New Orleans. (7-3)

If Tennessee loses both and the Texans steal one of those games, they’d be sitting pretty.

A couple of weeks ago, those games against the Panthers (Dec. 18) and Colts (Dec. 22) looked like sure things. Now they could end up being the key to an entire season.